Wrapping machinery



Dec. 27, 1949 J. A. GILBERT WRAPPING MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1946 INVENTOR- J. AGILBERT.

fnonumsf Dec. 27, 1949 J. A. GILBERT WRAPPING MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed on. 4, 1946 mm mm on o INVENTOR Y J.A.G|LBERT. B

TTOBLIEYSQ Patented Dec. 27, 1949 2,492,567 WRAPPING MACHINERY Joseph Arthur Gilbert, G

assignor to Rose Brothers Limited, Gainsborough, England,

company ainsborough, England, (Gainsborough) a British Application October 4, 1946, Serial No. 701,124

14 Claims. 1

Great Britain October 4, 1945 This invention relates to the wrapping of arti- I cles of substantially rectangular shape such as cartons, either singly or in groups, batches of cisarettes, or other articles, by folding a wrapper of paper, foil, film, or other wrapping material, around the article in the form of a tube with D- posed marginal portions of the wrapper lying face to face in the form of an upstanding longitudinal seam which is subsequently sealed and folded down on to the article, then collapsing and sealing end portions of the tube extending from the ends of the article so as to form lateral seams extending along the ends of the article. The invention is concerned with a new or improved method of and apparatus for performing the above wrapping operations. Packages formed by wrapping articles in the above manner will be referred to hereinafter as packages of the kind described.

According to the invention, packages of the kind described are formed by folding a wrapper in the form of a U about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article with the upstanding portions of the wrapper lying parallel to the direction of travel of the articles through the apparatus, then forming the longitudinal seam by pressing the upstanding portions of the wrapper towards each other, then turning the partially wrapped article through an angle of 90 so that the ends of the article lie parallelto the direction of travel of the article, and then forming the lateral seams with the article in that position.

According to a feature of the invention, packages of the kind described are formed by an apparatus comprising a conveyor on which is pivotally mounted a series of open-ended article-supporting pockets, means for feeding an article and wrapper to each pocket in turn in such a manner that the wrapper is folded about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article in the form of a U with portions of the wrapper left upstandin from the sides of the article and lying parallel to the direction of travel of the article through the machine, means for pressing the upstanding portions of the wrapper towards each other to form a longitudinal seam, means for folding the longitudinal seam down on to the upper faceof the package, means for turning each pocket in turn through an angle of 90 so that the ends of the article lie parallel to the direction of travel of the article, and means for collapsing and sealing the tubular portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article to form lateral seams.

By the use of the present invention, the final sealing of both the longitudinal and lateral seams.

, 2 may be effected while the partially wrapped articles are travelling through the machine, thus facilitating smooth and efiicient operation of the machine.

Various forms of wrapping material and adhesives may be used. For example, ordinary wrapping paper may be used, in which case the adhesive may be gum or the like. The invention isparticularly useful, however, when using wrapping material of the kind commonly known as heat-sealing material, which is coated with a thermoplastic substance which is rendered adhesive by the application of heat and pressure. In such a case, the seam-forming means are provided with heating elements or electronic sealing means to effect the sealing of the seams.

By way of example, the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2, when connected along the line al -a, show an elevation of part of a wrapping machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figures 3 and 4, when connected along the line b-b, show a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, and

Figure '5 is a part sectional elevation taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, articles H are fed in succession to a series of open-ended pockets l2 by a suitable feeding mechanism diagrammatically indicated at l3, and a succession of wrappers [4 of heat sealing material are fed across the path of movement of the articles II into the pockets l2 in timed relationship with the feeding of the articles H so that a wrapper I4 is pushed by each article into a pocket l2 and is caused to fold round the bottom and two opposed sides of the article leaving portions of the wrapper upstanding from the sides of the article in the form 'ofa U and portions of the wrapper suificient to form end folds extending from the open ends of the pockets l2.

The pockets l2 are pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis on guide blocks I6 attached at spaced intervals to a conveyor chain ll, the guide blocks It being arranged in engagement with stationary guide members l8 on each side of the chain Il. Freely mounted on the base of each pocket I2 is a pair of rollers I9 and 2|, the roller I9 engaging a pair of stationary guides 22 during the movement of the pocket through the first stages of the machine, and the roller 2| engaging a pair of similar guides 23 during the travel of the pocket through later stages of the machine after the pocket has been turned through 90 as described below.

The conveyor chain I! is driven intermittently by suitable mechanism (not shown) and at each movement it carries the pockets a distance equal to the distance between the pockets on the chain, the pockets being carried in this manner past a series of stations at each of which an operation is performed. Thus, following the progress or one article II through the machine, the article with its wrapper I 4 is fed to the pocket I 2 at a feeding station, as described above, and after the feeding operation, the chain l1 carries the pocket I2 to an intermediate station and then to a first folding station, and during the latter movement the upstanding portions oft-he wrapper I4 are folded over the upper surface of the article by a pair of folding members 26 between which is arranged a stationary longitudinal web 21 against which marginal portions of the wrapper are caused to bear by the folding members 25 so as to form an upstanding seam.

The chain i! then carries the pocket 12' through a sealing station and during this movement the upstanding seam is passed into the nip of a series ofipairs of heated rollers 23 which seal the upstan ding longitudinal seam by heat and pressure. if r the sealing of the lngitudin-al' seam the a e; carries the pocket to a turning station and during this movement, the roller l9 moves out of the guides 22 so as to leave the pocket i2 free to pivot. Just as the roller l9 moves out of the guides 22, the roller 2| moves into engagement a stationary guiding member 29, disposed adiace'rit the entrance to the guides 23, thus causing the pocket l2 to pivot about its vertical axis during further movement of the conveyor chain ll, the roller !9 passing through a gap between the guides 22 and an extension 20 of one of the guides 23, while the roller 2i is caused to roll' round the guiding member 29 and into the channel between the two guides 23. By the time the pocket comes to rest at the turning stationL therefore, it has turned through an angle of 90 and is now guided by the roller 2| inengagement with the guides 23. The chain If! then carries the pocket !2 to an end folding station, andduring this movement the upstanding longitiidfnal seam just formed is folded over on to the top or the package by a stationary folder 3|.

At the end folding station, the article is enclosed in it's wrapper in the form of a tube with portions extending from the ends of the article.

'A'pair' of stretcher fingers 32 are now caused to iffiove into each open end of the tube and then outwardly so as to collapse the walls to form end s ams, the seams being completed by pairs of rotary folders 33 arranged to pivot about the upper and lower edges of the package and to nip the collapsed tubular extensions as the stretching fingers 32 are withdrawn. The rotary folders 33 are mounted on arcuate blocks 34 arranged toslide in arcuate tracks 36 arranged with their axes coincident with the upper and lower edges of the package, the arcuate blocks 34 being actuated by arms 31 and links 38.

The chain I! then moves once more to carry the pocket [2 through a second sealing station, and as soon as the pocket l2 starts to move the end seams just formed are caused to enter the hips of two sets of heated sealing rollers 39 so that as the pocket moves forward the end seams are sealed by heat and pressure. The chain then moves again to carry the completely sealed package to an ejecting station where the package is lifted clear of the pocket I2 by a pair of lifting members 4| into a stacker 42 during which movement the end seams are folded downwardly against the ends of the package, and during further movement into the stacker 42, the tabs extending from the ends of the package are ploughed over on to the sides of the package by folding members incorporated in the stacker 42. After the delivery of the package into the stacker 42', the empty pocket 12 passes to a further turning station where the roller 2| moves out of the guides 23 while the roller l9 engages a stationary guiding member similar to the guiding member 29, and the pocket is turned back through an angle of to its original position in a: manner similar to that described above and the pocket {2 is returned by the chain to the feeding stat-ion where another article and wrapper are fed.

Iclaimz' 1 A method of forming packages of the kind described, comprising folding a wrapper about they bottom and two opposed sides of the article in the form of a .U shaped channel with portions of the wrapper left upstanding from the sides of the article, moving the partially wrapped article in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said channel, forming the longitudinal scam by pressing the upstanding portions of the wrapper towards each other, then turning the partially wrapped article through an angle of 90 so that the ends of the article lie parallel to the direction of movement of the article, and then forming the lateral seams with the article in that position.

2. Apparatus for forming packages of the kind described, comprising a conveyor on which is plvotally mounted a series of open-ended articlesupporting pockets, means for feeding an article and wrapper to each pocket in turn in such a manner that the wrapper is-folded about the'bottom and two opposed sides of the article in the form of a U with portions of the wrapper left upstanding, from the sidesyof the article and lying parallel to the direction of travel of the article through the machi'ne; means for pressing theups-tanding portions of the wrapper towards each other to form a longitudinal seam, means for folding the longitudinal seam down on to the upper face of the package, means forturning each pocket in turn through an: angle of 90 so that the ends of thearticle l-ie parallel to the direction of travel of the article, and means for collapsing and sealing the tubular portions of the wrapper extending from; the ends of the article to form lateral seams. 7 e

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a narrow longitudinal web extending along a portion of the length of the conveyor and arranged adiacent the path of travel of the upper surfaces of the articles, a pair of folding members; arranged one on each side of said web and adapted during movement of theconveycr to fold the upstanding portions of each wrapper in turn towards each other so that they lie along the upper surface of the article with marginal portions upstanding against said web, andsealing'means arranged adjacent said web and adapted to receive and seal said marginal portions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sealing means comprises a series of pairs of rollers between which said marginal por'tions'of the wrapper are nipped during their travel through the machine,

' 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the collapsed tubular portions of the wrapper at the ends of thearticles are sealed by passing them through sets of nip rollers arranged on each side of the machine.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the collapsed tubular portions of the wrapper at the ends of the articles are sealed by passing them through sets of nip rollers arranged on each side of the machine.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wrappers are formed from heat sealing material and the sealing means comprises heated sealing elements;

8. Apparatus for forming packages of the kind described, comprising a conveyor on which is pivotally mounted a series of open-ended article-supporting pockets, means for feeding an article and a wrapper of heat-sealing material to each pocket in turn in such a manner that said wrapper is folded about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article in the form of a U with portions of the wrapper left upstanding from the sides of the article and lying parallel to the direction of travel of the article through the machine, means for pressing the upstanding portions of the wrapper towards each other to form a longitudinal seam, heated sealing elements for sealing said seam by means of heat and pressure, means for folding the sealed seam down on to the upper face of the package, means for turning each pocket in turn through an angle of 90 so that the ends of the article lie parallel to the direction of travel of the article, means for collapsing the tubular portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article to form lateral seams, and heated sealing elements arranged to seal said lateral seams by means of heat and pressure.

9. Apparatus for forming packages of the kind described, comprising a conveyor on which is pivotally mounted a series of open-ended articlesupporting pockets, means for feeding an article and a wrapper of heat sealing material to each pocket in turn in such a manner that the wrapper is folded about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article in the form of a U with portions of the wrapper left upstanding from the sides of the article and lying parallel to the direction of travel of the article through the machine, a narrow longitudinal web extending along a portion of the length of said conveyor and arranged adjacent the path of travel of the upper surfaces of the articles, a pair of folding members arranged one on each side of said web and adapted during movement of said conveyor to fold the upstanding portions of each wrapper in turn towards each other so that they lie along the upper surface of the article with marginal portions upstanding against said web, heated sealing elements adapted to receive and seal said marginal portions, means for folding the sealed marginal portions down on to the upper face of the package, means for turning each pocket in turn through an angle of 90 so that the ends of the article lie parallel to the direction of travel of the article, means for collapsing the tubular portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article to form lateral seams, and heated sealing elements arranged to seal said lateral seam by means of heat and pressure.

10. Apparatus for forming packages of the kind described, comprising a conveyor on which is pivotally mounted a series of open-ended articlesupporting pockets, means for feeding an article and a wrapper of heat sealing material to each pocket in turn in such a'manner that the wrapper is folded about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article in the form of a U withportions of the wrapper left upstanding from the sides of the article and lying parallel to the direction of travel of the article through the machine,'a narrow longitudinal web extending along a portion of the length of said con- Veyor, and arranged adjacent the path of travel of the upper surfaces of the articles, a pair of folding members arranged one on each side of said web and adapted during movement of said conveyor to fold the upstanding portions of each wrapper in turn towards each other so that they lie along the upper surface of the article with marginal portions upstanding against said web, a series of pairs of heated sealing rollers between which said marginal portions of the wrapper are nipped during their travel through the machine, means for folding the sealed marginal portions down on to the upper face of the package, means for turning each pocket in turn through an angle of so that the ends of the article lie parallel to the direction of travel of the article, means for collapsing the tubular portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article, and pairs of heated sealing rollers arranged on each side of the machine between which said collapsed tubular portions are nipped during their travel through the machine.

11. Apparatus for forming packages of the kind described, comprising a conveyor on which is pivotally mounted a series of open-ended article-supporting pockets, means for feeding an article and wrapper to each pocket in turn in such a manner that the Wrapper is folded about the bottom and two opposed sides of the article in the form of a U with portions of the wrapper left upstanding from the sides of the article and lying parallel to the direction of travel of the article through the machine, means for pressing the upstanding portions of the wrapper towards each other to form a longitudinal seam, means for folding the longitudinal seam down on to the upper face of the package, a projection on each of said pockets, a stationary guiding member adapted to be engaged by the projection on each pocket in turn as it reaches the guiding member so as to cause said pocket to turn on its pivot through an angle of 90 so that the ends of the article lie parallel to the direction of travel of the article, and means for collapsing and sealing the tubular portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article to form lateral seams.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a narrow longitudinal web extending along a portion of the length of the conveyor and arranged adjacent the path of travel of the upper surfaces of the articles, a pair of folding members arranged one on each side of said web and adapted during movement of the conveyor to fold the upstanding portions of each wrapper in turn towards each other so that they lie along the upper surface of the article with marginal portions upstanding against said web, and sealing means arranged adjacent said web and adapted to receive and seal said marginal portions.

13. Apparatus for forming packages of the kind described, comprising a conveyor on which is pivotally mounted a series of open-ended article-supporting pockets, means for feeding an article and a wrapper of heat sealing material to each pocket in turn in such a manner that said wranper is folded about the b'ottormand two opposed sides of the article in the fotm of a with portions of the: wrapper left upstanding from: the sides oi the. article and lying; parallel to the: direction of travel of the article through the machine, means for pressing the upstanding portions of the wrapper towards each other to form a longitudinal seam,heated sealing elements for" sealing said seam by means of heat and pressure, means for folding the sealed seam down on to the upper face or the package; a projectiohon each of pockets; a, stationary guiding member adapted to be engagedby theprojection on pocket turn as it reaches the guiding" member so as to" cause said pocket to turn: onitspivot' through: an angle 0t 90 so that the ends of the article he parallel; to: the direction oftravelof the article, means i012 collapsing. the tubular portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article to form lateralseams, and heated sealing elements arranged to seal said lateral seams by means of heat and pressure.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sealing elements are in the formof series of pairs of heated sealing rollers between which said: longitudinal and lateral seams are nipped during their travel through the machine;

JOSEPH GILBERT.

N 0 references cited. 

